I know that as a college student it can be difficult to decide where to eat. The cafeteria may not seem appetizing and you’ve probably gotten sick of the fast food from the Student Center Food Court.

From what I’ve seen, Conway has plenty of affordable restaurants for students to try when they want to grab a bite to eat off campus. The discounts might not be the most significant, but every little bit helps when you’re trying to stay afloat 

There’s all sorts of options. Tacos 4 Life has a rewards program you can use to save up for a free cheese dip or taco, and the Original Fried Pie Shop has student discounts on certain days of the week. It’s important to leave campus every once in a while and explore the various options Conway has to offer, ranging from the cheap and possibly not good to the somewhat pricy but very good. Even with the changes to certain student favorites, like Bear’s Den, it doesn’t mean you should be dissuaded from checking the menu out.

You don’t have to rely on microwavable ramen and Easy Mac all the time, so it’s imporant not to completely disregard university dining. Throughout every year that you spend at UCA, it’s best to take note and at least experiment with the various campus eateries. Depending on if you’re looking for a full meal or just a cup of soup, the food choices on campus offer something up your alley. 

When you inevitably go to the grocery store, though, make sure to stock up on enough frozen meals and breakfast to last at least a week, if not more. Eating protein in the morning is crucial, and I’ve had plenty of moments where I’ve eaten a Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwich because I didn’t have time to run to the cafeteria or Chick-fil-A. 

Of course, eating out might not be something you can afford to do every week. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other businesses where student discounts can be put to good use. Certain movie theaters give out discounts to students if you present your ID or provide discounts to everyone on particular days. Conway’s Cinemark Towne Center has a weekly discount tickets every Tuesday.

Cash is something that’s going to always be important to manage, which is why it’s critical to limit the amount of times you go out to eat in the first place. Speaking from experience, it’s easy to spend too much money after a few weeks of eating out.

All in all, just be aware of what coupons and discounts are available to you, so you can save a few bucks while surviving the college life.